Order of the High Court of Jammu & Kashmir (Srinagar Bench) in the matter of Syed Iqbal Tahir Geelani Vs State of Jammu & Kashmir dated 27/11/2018.

A public interest litigation was filed in 2002 alleging largescale release of pollutants into the Dal Lake, misuse and encroachment into the lake and complete insufficiency of the administration in managing the lake.

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The High Court of Jammu & Kashmir ordered that Jammu & Kashmir Lakes and Waterways Development Authority (LAWDA) should be empowered and made efficient and accountable. Steps should be taken for the gradual elimination of floating gardens.

The Committee of Experts (COE) should examine and recommend to LAWDA the manner in which the existing boundaries of floating gardens be marked immediately so that there was no expansion thereof. Steps has to be taken for stopping sewage of effluents from commercial establishments including hotels, restaurants and shops which were releasing sewage into the Dal Lake directly or through nallahs.

LAWDA should issue notices asking all the commercial establishment to install technically suitable and environmental friendly arrangements within three months for treatment of sewage and sullage (grey water) within their premises itself without releasing any sewage or sullage into the Dal or into any nallah that flows into the Dal or any other lake. The establishment should be directed to intimate LAWDA of the compliance of the directions which has to be subject to inspection by LAWDA and the Jammu & Kashmir State Pollution Control Board.

The concerned authorities including LAWDA have to ensure that the process of identification of families who were required to be relocated must be completed at the earliest, the J&K High Court order of November 27, 2018 said.